Logitech QuickCam Communicate STX Personal Web Camera: Is This The Best Webcam Deal Out There?

Well, I gave in to my wife and got her what she had been wishing for. She is very close to her family and moving to Atlanta has not always been easy on her. I told her a year ago that I would get her a webcam so she could chat and, every bit as importantly, see her family in Pennsylvania. We both know that it is not the same as being there, but it does help her see that they are doing well and provides a little extra comfort.

I have been through at least three webcams and have had mainly good experiences with them. The last one bit the dust when it got dropped over and over on a hardwood floor. This one should last for a longer time as it feels like it is better made and it will be dropped on carpet if it does fall.

Anyway, Logitech is the company that I have had good experiences with so they were a no-brainer when it came to making the purchase. I was surprised that the cost was in the $35-40 range. Heck, there a many more things that you can do today with a webcam that you could not do years ago and years ago the equipment cost twice as much. You gotta love that.


WHAT I LIKE:

1. The webcam works with virtually all of the major IM programs. My wife and I use MSN and Yahoo most of the time, but the Communicate STX also works with AOL, AIM, and I am sure there are other platforms where you can utilize the webcam.

2. The Communicate STX is "cool". The older webcams were basically square with a single eye that would broadcast a grainy picture with mediocre- at best- sound. This one is round and looks like something that you might find in NASA's coffers. It even has a cool looking blue activity light that lets you know when you are live and broadcasting.

3. It could not be easier to use. All you have to do is attach the USB cable to your computer, download the software that is provided, and log in to your IM program and you are good to go. Once you are in IM, the camera functions as you would expect. In other words, there are commands that are easy to follow should you want to do things like increase the picture to full screen or take still photos and send them.

4. The quality of the picture is very good. The grainy images that you might have become accustomed to three or four years ago are a thing of the past. The Communicate STX has a high quality VGA sensor and produces a picture with up to 640 x 480 pixels. The still image is 1.3 megapixels in BMP or JPEG formats. The picture that you will see is essentially the same quality as what you will see if you are viewing a video on your laptop. This is a huge upgrade over years past.

5. The sound is also very good. My wife will use the microphone and talk to her family while watching them and she is constantly surprised with the quality of the sound. I am as well. The sound is clear- not crystal, but clear- and does not have any background noise. However, a lot of it depends on your speakers and how good they are. I am sure the sound would not be as good on my laptop, but for what we use it for it works very well.

6. I like the versatility of the webcam. The lense will follow you so you do not need to constantly aim it in different directions as you move. I find that- and this will also keep me from dropping it- by clipping the webcam onto my desk with the enclosed clip I am able to maximize the viewing. You also have some flexibility since the USB cord is six feet long.


WHAT I DO NOT LIKE:

Well, to this point, nothing. I guess I could nitpick and say that webcams have been flimsy in my experience, but thay was often my own doing and this one does feel like it would take a bit of a beating. Otherwise, I am really hard pressed to find something that I do not like with the Communicate STX.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

I am very pleased with the purchase of this webcam. As I mentioned, I have had some good experiences with webcams and some not so good experiences. I have nothing but good things to say about this one after a month or so of use. I am sure there are better webcams out there, but not for the price and simplicity. Heck, simplicity is important when trying to get my wife to understand technology. For everyday use, I do not have a problem highly recommending this webcam. Logitech has come up with yet another winner in this niche.